Six penal officers convicted of torturing inmates in Contagem

Six penal officers have been convicted for torture and omission of torture against inmates at a prison facility in Contagem, located in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The crimes occurred in July 2020 during an intervention following the discovery of illicit materials within the facility.

Three officers were found directly responsible for the physical and psychological assaults, which were carried out to extract information or confessions regarding the illicit materials. These three individuals were sentenced to 18 years and 8 months of imprisonment in an initial closed regime for seven counts of qualified torture.

An additional three officers were convicted of omission for failing to prevent the abuses despite their legal duty to act. They received sentences of 7 years of imprisonment or detention in an initial semi-open regime. Three other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the loss of public office for the convicted officers and a prohibition from holding public functions for a period determined by law. The court also established a minimum compensation for moral damages to the victims.